Jack's Obsession

Song Details and Analysis

• Title: Jack’s Obsession


• Performed by: Danny Elfman (voice of Jack Skellington)


• Composer: Danny Elfman


• Album: The Nightmare Before Christmas (Soundtrack)


• Genre: Soundtrack, Musical


• Release Date: 1993

Exploring the meaning of "Jack’s Obsession" by Danny Elfman

*Jack’s Obsession* delves into Jack Skellington’s internal struggle as he grapples with the elusive meaning of Christmas. The song illustrates Jack’s fixation on understanding this new holiday, which both fascinates and confounds him. Despite his efforts to analyze the objects and traditions of Christmas, Jack remains unable to grasp the holiday’s essence, feeling that it slips “through [his] bony fingers” like a snowflake in fire. This obsession represents Jack’s search for deeper fulfillment—something beyond his Halloween-themed existence.

Through this piece, Danny Elfman paints a picture of a character caught between intellectual curiosity and emotional longing. Jack’s realization that “just because [he] cannot see it doesn’t mean [he] can’t believe it” marks a turning point, where he convinces himself that he can embrace Christmas by making it his own. The song reflects the human desire to find meaning and reshape one’s life, even if it means misinterpreting or appropriating something unfamiliar.

Technical Analysis

The song is driven by a haunting melody with a sense of urgency that mirrors Jack’s obsessive need to uncover Christmas’s secrets. Elfman employs a repeating minor key pattern, with subtle variations that add complexity and an air of mystery to the composition. The tempo quickens as Jack becomes more desperate and frustrated, using sharp, punctuated phrases to express his confusion. The crescendo at the end of the song captures Jack’s “Eureka!” moment, where he concludes that he can transform Christmas to fit his world. This blend of gothic intensity and whimsical charm makes the song both eerie and endearing.

Emotional Analysis

1. Opening Refrain: "Something's up with Jack" - Concern, bewilderment


2. Jack’s Soliloquy: "Christmas time is buzzing in my skull" - Obsession, frustration


3. Realization: "Of course! I’ve been too close to see" - Relief, clarity


4. Resolution: "This year Christmas will be ours!" - Excitement, determination

Similar Songs

*Jack’s Obsession* aligns with songs where characters express intense curiosity, self-discovery, or fixation on a goal that feels just out of reach. These songs share a similar energy of intellectual struggle, longing, and revelation:

• “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner – A search for deeper understanding, with an intensity born of frustration and hope.


• “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. – Describes an internal obsession and confusion, seeking understanding and clarity.


• “Fix You” by Coldplay – A song of personal resolve to overcome a sense of loss and find hope.


• “The Scientist” by Coldplay – A journey of seeking answers to emotional questions, grappling with incomprehension.


• “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd – Reflects the internal struggle to feel something meaningful and real.

Comparison to Previous Work

Danny Elfman’s *Jack’s Obsession* fits into his recurring theme of characters who feel out of place or burdened by existential questions. Much like *Jack’s Lament*, where Jack yearns for something beyond Halloween, *Jack’s Obsession* captures his need to break free from his comfort zone. Elfman’s compositions in *The Nightmare Before Christmas* convey complex emotions and blend dark humor with poignancy, offering audiences a sympathetic view of Jack as he tries to understand a world far from his own. This song is both whimsical and haunting, hallmarks of Elfman’s unique musical style.

“Jack’s journey is about more than just curiosity; it’s about the need to feel fulfilled, to expand beyond what he knows. His desire to control and recreate Christmas speaks to a deep-seated longing for something he can’t quite define.”

Danny Elfman on *Jack’s Obsession*